Improvement in whiffletree-hooks



N. M. BOWEN. WHIFFLETREE-HOOKS.

No. 193,798. Patented Aug. 7,1877.

WI TJVESSES NJFEA'ERS, PHOTD-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTQN. D, C.

UNITED STATES T OFFICE.

NEWTON M. BOWEN, OF KNIGHTSTOWN, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WHlFFLETREE-HOOKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 193,798, dated August 7, 1877 application filed June 16, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NEWTON M. BOWEN, of the city of Knight-stown, county of Henry, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace Attachments to Single-Trees, of which the following is a specification Reference is hadto theaccompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts.

Figure 1 is a side view of my invention.

I Fig.2 is a longitudinal section, drawn through the dotted linea a, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a transverse section, drawn through the dotted line b b, Fig. 2.

In the drawings, A represents the outside casing of my attachment, which, at the same time, acts as a ferrule to the single-tree. B is a single-tree tip, which is pivoted to the case A at D, on which to catch the trace. 0 is a bolt to hold the pivoted tip B in place: D is a pivot, on which the tip B turns when released from the bolt 0. E is a lug, attached to the bolt O, by which to disengage it from the pivoted tip B. F is a spring, by which the bolt 0 is kept in contact with the pivoted tip B when not intentionally disengaged. G is a second chamber in the casing A, in which the bolt 0 works.

The importance of this chamber will be seen,

when it is remembered that the wood of the sin gle-tree is thereby kept entirely apart from the bolt, so that it cannot by any means bind the said bolt or keep it from working freely.

To prevent a too great strain from coming on the tip B, the end of the attachment is usually so made that the point of working contact between it and the trace will be'over the pivot D, and part of the load thus thrown directly onto the casing or ferrule A.

The object of my invention is to provide a convenient means by which traces can be speedily detached from single-trees, so that in case of accident or runaway the horses may be freed from the vehicle immediately, and the common danger to life or limb resulting from such occurrences be thereby avoided; and also to make said invention convenient for common use, especially if the driver is inexperienced in the care anduse of horses, as is usually the case with women and children.

Thisis accomplished by using the devices hereinbefore described in the following manner: There being one of these attachments on each end of asingle-tr'ee, connect them together by a strap between the lugs E. To the centerof this strap attach a second, which pass up into the vehicle to a place convenient to the has heretofore been made in which a similar bolt has been operated from the inside of the sin gle-tree, but this arrangement necessitates a special manufacture of thesingle-tree itself, and I do not claim it. My improvement, having the separate chamber G, in which the bolt 0 is operated, can be used on any singletree, including those of the most ordinary construction.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In asingle-tree attachment, the combination of the ferrule A, having one chamber for the reception of the end of the single-tree, and a separate chamber, G, for the reception. and protection of the bolt 0, with the pivoted tip B and the bolt 0, having the lug E, all constructed, arranged, and operated substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purposes specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 7 6th day of June, A. D. 1877. v

NEWTON M. BOWEN. [L. s.]

Inpresence of- 0. BRADFORD, Jos. A. SAWYER. 

